The Ex-Bestfriend

Chapter 26 Let's swing right into it (Edited)

Violet's P.O.V

I still remember the way he looked at me. Two years ago. It burned fresh in my mind. His eyes piercing, yet glancing over me as if I were a ghost. We shared classes, but he wouldn't sit next to me. Slowly his group of friends grew. First it was Aidan. Then it was Chase. Then the rest came along. The typical popular group of boys at school and some girls I didn't know. There was no spot left for me. I was alone. Almost like a miracle a ray of sunshine spilled into my life. Crystal. She replaced the empty hole he made. Yet why does the thought of him keep steering into my mind?

"I need to see you." It's starting to play like a broken record. I shook my head. He's the same person. The boy who threw me away and reeled me back in when he wanted to date Crystal. He's only pretending to care about me. But for a little moment, it was fun to pretend we were friends again. That morning at my house. Flour spilled over his cheeks. That cheeky grin. I clutched my chest once I felt butterflies settle in. I couldn't lie. Those butterflies never went away. I must be insane. I pulled into the drive way.

These thoughts circle my mind however I need to push them away. I'm playing right into this game. But I'm not doing this for me. But for Crystal.

"Violet I need to see you." Those words played in my head once more like a broken record. I knew there was only one way to get rid of it. I turned the wheel and found myself in Wilber street. Everything was the same. The trees. The houses. And one in particular. His. The white patio with the swinging chair. The maple tree and it's red swing. I parked my car along the curb. The moment I stepped out, a gently breeze washed over me. I made my way towards the red swing. I smiled when I noticed the dandelion stem intertwined on the rope. As kids, Josh would tie dandelions to the rope. That way when we swung, they would delicately fly away in the wind. I took a seat and gripped  the rope in my hands. The feeling of 'yesterday.' 

I hand clasped onto mine. I looked up and found Josh staring down at me. "You came." He smiled at me softly. There it was. That playboy smile. Just as I was about to hop off the seat I felt his hands on mine. Before I knew it I was gradually being drawn backwards. "umm Josh what are you doing?" I hesitantly leant off the seat. It was too late now. He was pulling me back higher and higher. "Oh come on, don't tell me you weren't thinking about it." He spoke. His cheek almost against mine. We both stared at the open road. "Are you ready Vi?" I didn't have time to reply. He swung me forwards. I launched upwards. The amber sky staring at me. The dandelions flying through the breeze and so did my hair. My heart raced with excitement My lips burst into a smile. I glided with the wind. The moment slowly died and I came to a halt. 

"Fun wasn't it?" My cheeks felt blazed with fire. I shyly nodded my head and stepped off the seat. I couldn't look him straight in the eye. For a moment he looked like the Josh from two years ago. The Josh I... I can't finish that sentence. I glanced at him once more. His chocolate brown eyes. Cherry cheeks. This couldn't be the same Josh who ruined my plans that day.

"Why did you sabotage my plans that day? With you and Crystal" I asked. Getting straight to the point like I had initially planned. 

Josh's gaze lingered for a bit and then he looked away. He shook his head. "I-I wasn't ready."

I raised my brow. "What do you mean you weren't, isn't the whole reason we're talking is so you can be with Crystal?" I stared at him in disbelief. Josh gazed at the floor and clenched his fists. His mouth finally opened. 

"That's not the only reason I was talking to you Violet." He stared at the ground. Hands clenched. The cool breeze blowing back his brunette locks. Don't lie. 

"Then why am I here?" He opened and closed his mouth. Hesitation spilling from his lipids. He better not say that he wants to back out now. After everything. The begging. The pleading. That's what this friendship amounted to. A simple deal.  I had to break my walls down for this. For him. 

"I was 100% all in for you." I shook my head. "I can't believe I trusted you." I walked backwards. 

"I am 100% all in." He looked at me. Finally. "But I'm starting to realise, I wasn't 100% all in for Crystal." He spoke softly.

"What do you mean?" I raised my brows. Josh opened his mouth only to close it. I noticed his jaw clench. I'm so tired of figuring out how he feels. "I think the two of you need to spend more time together." I know people get cold feet before a wedding, so maybe that can happen when you have a crush.

"Violet have you ever liked someone before?" Josh suddenly put out the question.

I snapped my head to face him. I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks. "I-I don't think so." I shook my head.

"Well, I do." His eyes locked with him. "Somehow your mind always drifts to the thought of them and when you see them your heart pounds like crazy. And the worst thing is, sometimes you forget how to act around them." As he finished those words his gaze still lingered. I could feel my own heart beat in my chest and my cheeks feeling warm.

"W-Why?" I averted my gaze. "Why do you forget how to act around them?"

"Because." He stepped closer. "They make me so damn nervous." 

So that's why. That's why he's been messing up all the time. She makes him nervous. She makes him... I paused. I looked up at him. His gooey chocolate eyes. A weird sensation brew in my stomach. Why am I only now starting to realise the reality of Josh falling for Crystal. I shook my head. What am I thinking right now? My goal is to get these two together.

"Ok," I nodded my head. "so you want to be with her right now but you're nervous and that's fine. You can't just stop trying." The words jumbled out of my mouth in a single breath.

"Exactly, I don't want to." He raised his hand to my face. W-What's he doing. 

I stepped back. "What if you practice before going on a date with Crystal?" 

His hand paused and his brows furrowed into a knot. "What do you mean?" 

"Go on a date with another girl. "His eyes widened. I only realised how bizzare that statement was once the words came out. "What I mean is, have a pretend date with a girl to practice when you go on an actual when with Crystal?"

"No way." he shook his head. "I won't do it."

Wow. He must really have it bad for her. I could feel an uncomfortable sensation in my chest. The thought of him. I bit down on my lip. A heard a loud sigh and I looked up. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "You know what, maybe that isn't such a bad idea." 

"Ok perfect, you can ask one of your friends. Do you have someone in mind?" Then the thought hit. Josh on a date. With another girl. There it was again. That feeling. That stupid hideous feeling. I'm suddenly not on board with this idea. It's ironic. That feeling of not wanting to see him with another girl yet setting him up with my best friend. I really am crazy. 

"Yeah. I think I have someone in mind." Josh said and there it was. The needle through my heart. 

"Perfect." I pressed on a smile. "Who do you have in mind?" I let my curiosity get the better of me.

"I think you know her actually." Josh pressed his index finger against his chin. The endless options of girls flooded my mind. Katie. Gwen. Polly. Pretty much the whole cohort of girls in our year group. I'm starting to not want to know her name anymore. It's obviously going to be one of his drop dead gorgeous friends.

"Actually Josh, I forgot to feed Snowy. Whoever she is, I'm sure she's gonna have a great time."

"Hey." He held my hand. "You're making it impossible for me to ask her?"

My eyes widened and I snapped my head towards him. W-What does he means by that. No that's crazy Violet. I'm getting ahead of my self. Josh stopped wanting to be your friend for a long time.

"Violet Valentine, will you go on a date with me?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hey Pri here!

I'm so so sorry for the very late update. I have no other excuses except the load uni has put on me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, things are beginning to spice up a bit. I'm on holidays currently so expect quicker updates xx